Thill-coupling.



No. 664,728. Patented Dec. 25. I900.

A. W. DECKER.

THILL COUPLING.

{Application filed May 11, 1900.3

(No Model.)

m m 3 :IIIIIIII-Imnum. um, V y h 5 UNITED STATES A PATENT OFFICE.

.ANSILL W. DECKER, OF NICHOLSON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO WVILLIAH G. NEBELUNG AND FRED. H. THOMAS, OF SORANTON,

PENNSYLVANIA.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 664,728, dated December 25, 1900.

Application filed May 11,1900. Serial No. 16,307. (No model.)

- of detachable thill-cou pling for vehicles; and

- cross-piece being shown in side view.

it consists of the combination and arraugement of parts hereinafter described.

' In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view of a coupling, a part of the Fig. 2 is a side view, partly broken away and looking in the opposite direction. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the clip forming one part of the coupling. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the detachable portion of the coupling, and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the locking device.

In the drawings, 1 represents the clip, which is secured to the axle 2 in the usual manner by means of a cross-piece 3, through which the lower threaded ends 4 of the clip extend, nuts 5 being placed upon said threaded ends. The forward side 6 of the clip is thickened, as shown, and is formed with an upwardlyprojecting coupling-piece '7, said couplingpiece being preferably rounded or tapering on the sides and ends, as shown in 3.

The detachable part B of the coupling coinprises a straight central portion 8, having the ears 9, projecting forwardly from either side, and a rearwardly curved or hooked portion 10 at its upper end, adapted to extend over the projection 7 upon the clip. Side pieces 11 extend rearwardly from the part 8, said pieces closing the ends of the hook, thereby forming a socket and being adapted to bear against the sides of the part 6 on the clip. A pin 12 extends downwardly from the center of the part 8 and through a suitable opening in the clip-piece 3. This pin is formed with a transverse slot 13 in its forward side, said slot being adapted to be engaged by acam 14, revolubly mounted upon a stud 15,passing through the cross-piece. The stud is secured against turning by means of nuts 26 and 27, the former being fitted into a socket in the cross-piece.

This cam is movable by means of a fiat springlever 16,whioh is pivoted upon the stud l5 and arranged between a pair of lugs 17, secured to the cam. The outer end of the spring-lever is provided with a suitable handle 18, by means of which it may be turned in either direction. When the coupling-piece B is in position, the hook portion 10 extends over the top of the projection 7, and the sides 11 extend downwardly over the thickened portion of the clip, as shown in Fig. 2. When the lever is turned parallel with the clip-piece, the cam will engage the slot in the pin 12 and draw the book 10 down tightly over the tapering projection -7. In Fig. 5 the cam is shown in full lines in engagement with the slot in the pin, and the dotted lines indicate the position of the cam and lever when the former is disengaged from the pin. The cam is formed with a portion out out, as shown at 19, and a projecting stop 20, so that when the lever is turned into the position indicated in dotted lines the cam will be disengaged from the slot, and the further movement of the lever will be stopped by the end 20, which strikes against the pin. In order to keep the lever from turning when the parts are together, a lug 21 is formed upon the cross-piece, said lug projecting below the upper side of the handle 18, so that the latter may be sprung over the lug to lock the parts and cannot be accidentally displaced. A setscrew 22 extends through the lug, and this set-screw may be adjusted so that when the lever is in the locked position there will be no opportunity for rattling between the parts.

I preferably arrange an antirattler upon the coupling-piece B, said antirattler consisting of a piece of metal 23, having a curved portion bearing against the thill-iron 24, its lower end resting against the part 8 and also against the clip-piece 3 when the parts are in position, as shown in Fig. 2. This metal piece 2 is constantly pressed against the thilliron by means of a wire spring 25, secured at its ends to the opposite sides of the part B and extending downwardly over said sides and thence between the arms 9 and bearing against the upper surface of the piece 23.

Instead of making the upward-projecting piece 7 integral with the clip it might obvi-r 'onsly be made separate and secured to the clip.

Having described my invention, what I- side of said clip, a coupling-piece to which the V thill-iron is connected, said couplingpiece having its upper end formed with a rectangular socket adapted to hook over said projection, a pin at the lower end of said coupling-piece adapted to extend through an opening in the cross-piece, and means arranged beneath the cross-piece for lockingsaidpin within the opening.

2. In a thill-coupling, the combination with an axle-clip and a cross-piece therefor, of an upward projection at the forward side of said clip, a coupling-piece to which the thill-iron is connected, said coupling-piece having its upper end arranged to hook over said projection, a pin at the lower end of said couplingpiece adapted to extend throughan opening in the cross-piece, said 'pin havinga transverse slot therein,a cam or wedge pivoted to the under side of the cross-piece and adapted toenter said slot, and a lever for turning said cam.

3. In a thin-coupling, the combination-with an axle-clip and a cross-piece therefor, of an upward projection atthe forward side of said clip, a coupling-piece to which the thill-iron is connected, said coupling-piece having its upper end arranged to hook over said projection, a pin at the lower .end of said couplingpiece adapted to extend through an opening in the cross-piece, said pin having a transverse slot therein, a cam or wedge pivotedto the under side of the cross-piece and adapted to enter saidslot, and a lever for turning said cam, said lever consisting of a spring-arm, and a lug depending from the cross-piece.

4. In a thill-coupling, the combination with an axle-clip and a cross-piece therefor, of an upward projection at the forward side of said clip, a coupling-piece to which the thill-iron is connected, said coupling-piece having its upper end arranged to hook over saidprojection, a pin atthe lower end of said coupIingpiece adapted to extend through anzopening in the cross-piece, said 'pinhaving a transverse slot therein, a cam or wedge pivoted to the under side of the cross-piece and adapted to enter said slot, and a lever for turning said ing a transverse slottherein, and a cam adapt- V ed to engage said slot.

6. The combination with .a clip havingan upward projection on its forward side anda cross-piece for said clip, of a coupling-piece to which the thill-iron'isattached,-said-co.upling-piece having its upper end arranged to hook over said projection, a pinat the lower end of said couplingpiece extendingthroug'h the crosspiece, said pin havinga transverse slot, and a rotary cam or wedge la beneath the-cross-piece, said wedge being adapted to engage the slot in the pin and having a cutout portion 19 and stop 20, snbstantiallyas described. 7

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANSI'LL W. DECKER.

Witnesses:

M. D. .BELLOWS, H. M. CEVE. 

